NCCC's Mistriner named Northeast Region Chef Educator of the Year

by jmaloni

Thu, May 3rd 2012 07:00 am

Mark Mistriner, chair of the Business and Hospitality
Division and coordinator of Culinary Arts at Niagara County Community College,
has been recognized by the American Culinary Federation as the 2012 Northeast
Region Chef Educator of the Year.

Mistriner, a Grand Island resident, received the award
during the 2012 ACF Northeast Regional Conference in Niagara Falls last
weekend.

"I am honored to have been chosen to represent the
Northeast Region as the Chef Educator of the Year," Mistriner said. "As an
educator, I truly enjoy watching the students grow and develop from their first
day in the kitchen until graduation and beyond. There is nothing more
satisfying than knowing that I have in some way helped students to progress
toward a successful career."

The 2012 ACF Northeast Region Chef Educator of the Year
award pays tribute to an active culinary educator whose knowledge, skills and
expertise have given culinary students leadership and guidance for the future.
As this year's Northeast Region recipient, Mistriner will vie for the national
title against three other candidates at the 2012 ACF National Convention in
Orlando, Fla., July 14-17. Candidates will each give a lecture/demonstration
before a panel of judges who will decide the winner.

Mistriner holds an associate degree in culinary arts from
NCCC, where he has worked since 1994. He began working at the school as a
technical assistant in the culinary arts department while attending night
school to earn his B.S. in hospitality at Buffalo State College. After earning
his bachelor's degree in 1995, he focused on his position at the school and
operating his wholesale/retail European pastry shop, The Pastry Table, in
Niagara Falls. Mistriner continued his education, earning a master's degree in
foundations and teaching from Niagara University in 2002 and was then promoted
to chef-instructor and assumed the role of program coordinator at NCCC. In this
role, Mistriner was responsible for the department's budget and oversaw curriculum
development, among other responsibilities. Since then, he has received several
promotions, from assistant professor to his current role as full professor and
chair of the College's Business & Hospitality Division.

Mistriner says he is proud to have streamlined all course
syllabi at the school, created measurable student learning outcomes and
standardized rubrics for all instructors. Enrollment has grown steadily, from
20 culinary students to 200. The school is currently in the midst of a $25
million building project, with the new Niagara Falls Culinary Institute's
completion date set for August 2012.

Prior to joining the staff at NCCC, Mistriner worked as
executive sous chef at Hyatt Regency Buffalo and as executive chef at Radisson
Hotel, Niagara Falls. He is a member and current vice president of ACF of
Greater Buffalo New York.